WAUKESHA COUNTY — Waukesha County officials are urging residents to stop calling 911 and going to the emergency room for non-emergency symptoms in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Waukesha County Executive's Office urged residents on Tuesday to stop calling 911 unless they were experiencing a life-safety emergency. According to officials, hospitals and other health care providers were experiencing "unprecedented call volume from the public."
"Unnecessarily contacting emergency services with questions that can be answered online at sites...or by calling 211 impedes their ability to help individuals who may have life-threatening conditions," said officials.
County officials say that if someone believes they are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, they are asked to stay home and contact your healthcare provider. Only call 911 if you're experiencing a medical emergency and call your healthcare provider first to determine if you need to be tested for the virus.